Essendon has won one of its past six matches and as a result has been under scrutiny over the past few weeks. The media has come out and said Bomber coach Kevin Sheedy is mad, the club is struggling and a number of Bombers players are out of form. Sheedy said the club is bound to cop criticism after the success it has had over the past few years. ""The winning protects you from that (criticism). There haven't been many sides that have been up there, like we have for the last three or four years. In fairness to the club and the players, they have been up for a very, long, long time. Olympic games athletes are not up for that long! These football players have to be up year after year after year. That is one of the tough things about AFL footy, that I don't think the players get respect for,"" Sheedy said.